They look to us to guide them.
Prejudice is the manure of truth…Into its making are put fear, meanness, superstition, and ignorance. (1927) Captain William Lewis Judy, WWI Soldier, lawyer, minister, publisher and Founder of National Dog Week
Imagine how excited I was to hear that Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan were actually celebrating National Dog Week in a big way last month (although they lamely called it Bow Wow Week). Finally, a major network was actually embracing a venerable and meaningful 84 year old tribute to man’s best friend.
Flash Forward to earlier this week when during National Pit Bull Awareness Month, Kelly dissed the much-maligned pit bull breed by asserting that pit bulls were the dog choice of thugs and gang-bangers and pretty much deemed all pitties as bad dogs. http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/kelly-ripa-pit-bulls-pit-bull-awareness-month
Since that time, the Live with Kelly and Mike Facebook pages and related sites have been jammed with heart-wrenching messages from sad and angry dog lovers. Comments and posts come in by the minute, if not the second, and show no signs of slowing down. People are hurt, not just be her flippant comments, but the fact that she appears to be oblivious to their pain and the fact that her reckless “expertise” only hurts them and a breed that suffers from a plethora of ignorance already.
As she dances and prances and spins the wheel with her co-host, Ripa displays unimaginable dim-wittedness. If her producers and agents are advising her, she should have them all fired. At this point, any apology from her will look scripted and forced. The fact that she left so many people devastated with no apparent concern is the mark of an uneducated, ignorant and self-centered “human.”
Ms. Ripa is worth millions. She can turn this around by helping death Row Dogs and by supporting those good caring people who try to save them every day with much-needed financial support.
As each new message pours in the haunting continues. Talk to your audience Kelly. Show a human-side. It is all you can do now.
Oh, and if you can’t do this, please do not soil the occasion of National Dog Week by claiming to be a fan.
Nationaldogweekbook's Blog 
5 comments
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October 14, 2012 at 6:42 pm
The Perfectly Imperfect One
Very well written! I can’t believe she makes that kind of money!
October 14, 2012 at 9:37 pm
nationaldogweekbook
Thank you so much. This is important. I am not trying to bash here. I just can no longer remain silent when someone with this much power shows so little consideration for the feelings of so many. My sadness and confusion are for real.
October 23, 2012 at 7:55 pm
John k
They seem to have shut down the “wall” on FB. No more comments, no more controversy I suppose.
October 23, 2012 at 8:38 pm
nationaldogweekbook
Maybe they shut the wall down, but you can still make your presence known by way of comments. Actually, the controversy is far from over. The fact that they may have shut down the wall says that the message was loud and clear. Saturday day is Pit Bull Awareness Day so stay-tuned for more rounds. It isn’t just about pit bulls, by the way. It is about irresponsible people in the media being completely dismissive of Human Beings and their devotion to dogs who mean the world to them. A “bully breed” as they are called may not be the right pet for everyone, but to condemn them to off the cuff stereotypical commentary and then not acknowledge this…that’s pretty arrogant.
October 23, 2012 at 8:41 pm
nationaldogweekbook
Sorry for some of my typos in my response to John, and I thank him for writing. It is good to know people are reading, too. Educate yourself so you can be even more smart than many of the people you see on the “little” screen. Let smart hosts like Ellen know you respect her genuine humanity and the respect she has for her viewers.